Door closer



Patented Apr. 14, 1953 DOOR CLOSER Ira 0. Altenburger, Lowell, Mich., assignor to Newell Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Michigan Application September 24, 1949, Serial No. 117,663

Claims. 1

The present invention provides a mechanism having the principal function of applying a biasing action to a door urging it toward the closed position. Devices of this general type are well known, and it is conventional practice to mount a helical spring upon some sort of a locating spindle so that the axis of the spring is generally parallel to the axis of the door with which the device is associated. Means are provided to fix one end of the spring with respect to the door jamb, usually by means of structure associated with a mounting bracket. The opposite end of this spring is engaged by a hinged member rotating co-axially with the spring and having an extensible radius arm attached thereto which is attached to the door. Arrangement is usually provided for establishing the required initial torsional bias to the spring; and when this is completed, it will be noted that the essentials of a biasing mechanism are present. It is the usual practice to combine such a mechanism with some sort of a shock-absorbing system such as 'a pneumatic cylinder having a relatively small outlet. The resistance to sudden closing provided by this mechanism prevents slamming of the door. The present invention, however, is centered around the biasing portion of the device, and does not involve the extensible shock-absorb ing portion.

'- When the helical spring is loaded anywhere near to its capacity in torsion, and that spring is located in position by a spindle, it is funda- "mental in spring design that the torsion applied should be in such a direction as to constrict the coils more closely around the spindle. If the torsion be applied in the opposite direction, a few turns near the end of the spring will be overloaded since the spindle will not be able to prevent the outward distortion of the spring. With type of torsion. The net result of this reversal of position is to cause the hinged member to operate from the opposite direction and to similarly reverse the action of the fixed end of the spring. It will be obvious that there are certain drawbacks to this arrangement, the first one coming to mind being the loss of time involved in dis-assembling a portion of the mechanism and reassembling it as required. A more frequent source of objection is the apparent inability of many tradesmen who install these devices to actually distinguish a constricting action from an unwinding action; and consequently it is very difhcult for them to determine whether or not a spring is properly installed.

It is the general purpose of the present invention to provide a door-closing mechanism which does not have a characteristic hand associated with a particular way in which the spring is assembled in the first instance. Such a device may be installed without regard to the direction in which the door swings upon its hinge, and thus the objectionable features of the standard devices are to a large degree eliminated. A door closer constructed according to the present invention can be mounted and attached to the door and initial bias given to the spring in the desired direction with the assurance that the spring will be properly loaded and that the device will operate as intended.

The mechanism utilized by the present invention to perform this function involves two sets of engaging means adapted to cooperate with the ends of the helical'spring. One set of such engaging means is associated with a fixed bracket mounted upon the door jamb, and the other set of engaging means is associated with the hinge member attached to the extensible radius arm which transfers the torque provided by the spring over to the door. Each of these sets of engaging means is adapted tocooperate with the end of the spring solely in the constricting direction. If the hinge member is rotated in one direction, a particular end of the spring will be engaged by the hinge member and the other will be engaged by a stop fixed with respect to the bracket. If the hinge member be rotated in the opposite direction, the opposite end of the spring will be engaged by the hinge member from the previous case, and similarly the opposite end thereof will be engaged by a member fixed with respect to the bracket. Preferably, the ends of the spring are turned outwardly in a radial direction a sufficient distance to accommodate both sets of the engaging means Without interference.

Preferably, the helical spring is mounted upon a spindle which is rotatably mounted upon a bracket. The bracket is adapted to be secured to the door jamb in such a fashion that the axis of the spindle is parallel to the hinge axis of the door. It may be noted that the spindle performs two functions: (a) the locating of the coil of the spring and (b) the mounting of one of the above noted sets of engaging means for the spring. These two functions may be performed simultaneously by a single element or a separate member may be used to transfer the torque generated by the engaging means, with a loosely fitting sleeve placed around that member to perform the function of locating the spring.

The angular position with respect to the bracket of that portion of the spindle serving as a support for the engaging means is usually determined by a ratchet system in order to permit the setting of the initial bias of the spring. In the present invention, this portion of the spindle is formed by a square shaft, with the engaging means having Openings registering with the shaft with a relatively close fit. The square shaft also cooperates with the ratchet gear, so the action of the pawl has the efiect of :determining the position of the engaging means.

While the hinged member of the preferred form of the present invention is also mounted upon the square shaft, the holes in the hinged member are round and of such .a diameter as to be able to rotate about the shaft. The springlocating member may also .fit loosely about the square shaft, but this fact is .not particularly u";

ber with the legs in planes substantially per- 3 pendicular to the axis of the spring. The back of this member is placed a sufficient distance from the axis of rotation so that the spring can be accommodated and certain other mechanisms which will be discussed hereinafter. The engaging means associated with this hinge member are preferably formed by a pair of cutouts in the back of the U-shaped member, the cutouts being so positioned and of such a size that they are engageable with the out-turned ends of the helical spring only in one direction. These portions are arranged to engage each end of the spring, but from opposite directions.

The engaging means carried by the spindle,

in the simplest form, comprises a pair of plates disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spring, these plates having an ear turned in an axial direction. These plates are placed at opposite ends of the spring and the ears are turned to reach toward the central portion and engage the out-turned ends above referred to. The radial distance of these ears from the axis of the structure is somewhat less than the radial distance from this axis to the inside of the back of the U-shaped member; and these ears are therefore positioned between the spring and the back of the hinge member. As stated, this structure presents the preferred form of the invention, and is capable of considerable variations while retaining the same essential operation.

The features of the present invention will be discussed in detail by an analysis of the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the mechanism taken parallel to the axis of a door. The device is shown with the cover removed from the biasing portion.

Figure 2 is a section taken upon the broken plane 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view taken on the plane 33 of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the bracket I0 is formed essentially as a right angle, and is attached securely to the door jamb indicated at H by the screws '52 and 1'3. The piston rod 14 is connected in the conventional manner to a piston (not shown) which cooperates with the air cylinder [5 to form an extensible radius arm associating the hinge member iii of the biasing mechanism with the door. The air cylinder [5 is pivotally attached at its outer end (not shown) to the door with a conventional fitting. The attachment of the rod [4 with the hinge member the mechanism illustrated is accomplished by the engagement of the threads at the point I1. v

The hinge member l6 pivots about the axis l8, and is secured in position by the engagement of circular holes at the points l9 and 29 with the square shaft 2]. At the upper end of the device, a washer 22 and a screw 23 secure the components of the device in the assembled condition.

The lower portion of the square shaft 21 engages a mating square hole in the gear .24, and a pawl member 25 is mounted in :a position to cooperate therewith upon the pivot 26.. The shape of the pawl member '25 is such that the gear 2 3 can be engaged from either direction as desired. The entire device is held in posi tion upon the bracket 10 by means of the screw 21. v

The locating sleeve 28 fits loosely about the square shaft and has the function of locating the spring 29 in a radial direction. The plates 31 and 32 are placed at opposite ends of the locating sleeve, and are provided with square holes adapted to closely enga e the square shaft 2]. These plates have the inwardly turned ears 33 and 34 arranged to engage the outwardly turned ends 35 and 3B of the spring 29. These outwardly turned ends of the spring also engage :1 the openings 3'! and 38, in the back 39 of the hinged member 15. (Refer to Figure 3.)

Referring to Figure 2, it must be kept in mind that the ears 33 and 34 are at all times in projection with respect to the axis I8. Due to their engagement with the square shaft, there .is no relative rotation between these members. In the view shown in Figure 2, the ear .34 appears. It will clarify the understanding of this device if 'it be kept in mind that the ear 33 is in the same angular position. In Figure 2, the hinge mem ber 16 is shown revolved in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the bracket I B, and the inner portion of the cutout 31 has engaged the out-turned end 35 of the spring 29. The Opposite end 36 of the spring has moved out of engagement with the back 39 of the hinge member I6, and it will be noted that the outer end 4!! of the cutout 38 is at such position that the end 35 of the spring may rotate around the axis l8 without contacting that point.

Since the upper end of the spring 29 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Figure 2 by the action of the hinge member 16., it follows that there will be a natural tendency for the bottom part of the spring to follow this motion. The lower portion of the spring, however, is restrained from rotation by the action of the ear as as it engages the lower outwardly turned end 36. As the hinge member 6 continu-es to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction,

a biasing action is generated by the spring between (11) the fixed point represented by the bent car 34, and (b) the cutout 31 in the back 39 of the hinge member.

If the hinge member It were to be rotated in the opposite direction from that shown in Figure 2, precisely the opposite action would take place. The lower end 36 of the spring would become engaged by the cutout 38 in the back of the hinge member 16. The fixed point for the spring to operate against would be provided by the car 33 as it engages the upper end 35 of the spring. It will be noted that the ratchet member 25 is free to swing about the pivot 26 in a clockwise direction so that it may engage the ratchet gear 24 to prevent rotation from the opposite direction from that in which it is operating in the View shown in Figure 2. With this arrangement, it is possible to apply an initial bias to the spring by rotating the ratchet gear 24 with a suitable spanner wrench after loosening the screw 21. When the required tension has been developed, the ratchet member 25 can be brought into engagement with the ratchet gear and that amount of initial bias held permanently.

The particular embodiments which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described herein are for illustrative purposes only, and are not to be taken as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims. It is the intent of the inventor to claim the entire invention to which he is entitled in View of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A door closer, comprising: bracket means; helical spring means; means forming a hinge member pivotally mounted on said bracket means; locating means positioning said helical spring means substantially coaxially with said hinge member; first engaging means disposed to displace either end of said helical spring means in a constricting direction, said first engaging means being fixed with respect to said bracket; second engaging means disposed to displace either end of said helical spring means in a constricting direction, said second engaging means being fixed with respect to said hinge member; and means forming an extensible radius arm fixed with respect to said hinge member.

2. A door closer, comprising: bracket means; helical spring means; means forming a U-shaped hinge member pivotally mounted on said bracket means; locating means positioning said helical spring means substantially coaxially with and between the ends of said hinge member; first engaging means disposed to displace either end of said helical spring means in a constricting direction, said first engaging means being fixed with respect to said bracket; second engaging means disposed to displace either end of said helical spring means in a constricting direction, said second engaging means including cut-out portions in the back of said hinge member; and means forming an extensible radius arm fixed with respect to said hinge member.

3. A door closer, comprising: bracket means; helical spring means having radially outwardlyturned ends; means forming a hinge member pivotally mounted on said bracket means; locating means positioning said helical spring means substantially coaxially with said hinge member, said locating means comprising a normally fixed spindle; first engaging means disposed to displace either end of said helical spring means in a constricting direction, said first engaging means being fixed with respect to said spindle; second engaging means disposed to displace either end of said helical spring means in a constricting direction, said second engaging means including cutout portions in the back of said hinge member; and means forming an extensible radius arm fixed with respect to said hinge member.

4. A door closer, comprising: bracket means; helical spring means; means forming a hinge member pivotally mounted on said bracket means; locating means positioning said helical spring means substantially coaxially with said hinge member, said locating means comprising a normally fixed spindle; first engaging means disposed to displace either end of said helical spring means in a constricting direction, said first engaging means being fixed with respect to said spindle; second engaging means disposed to displace either end of said helical spring means in a constricting direction, said second engaging means being fixed with respect to said hinge member; bias-adjusting means including locking means establishing the angular position of said spindle about the axis of said spring; and means forming an extensible radius arm fixed with respect to said hinge member.

5. A door closer, comprising: bracket means; helical spring means; means forming a hinge member pivotally mounted on said bracket means; locating means positioning said helical spring means substantially coaxially with said hinge member, said locating means comprising a normally-fixed spindle having a non-circular crosssection; first engaging means disposed to displace either end of said helical spring means in a constricting direction, said first engaging means including a disc-shaped portion having an aperture for non-rotative engagement with said spindle; second engaging means disposed to displace either end of said helical spring means in a constricting direction, said second engaging means being fixed with respect to said hinge member; and means forming an extensible radius arm fixed with respect to said hinge member.

IRA O. ALTENBURGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,015,436 Gudmundsen Jan. 23, 1912 2,066,795 Moore Jan. 5, 1937 2,102,321 Keene Dec. 14, 1937 

